Commissioner Chong is pleased to present the 2015 New York City Youth Guide to Summer Fun. Whether you're looking for the hottest concerts, film festivals and street fairs, or need to beat the heat at one of our many pools and beaches, there are thousands of attractions and events that are just a quick walk or subway or bus ride away. This guide is a partnership between New York City agencies, museums, youth groups, libraries, arts organizations and cultural institutions. Click here to download the guide.

The Department of Youth and Community Development, in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Contract Services and HHS Accelerator, presents a five-borough Community Development Workshop series geared toward reaching community-based organizations and educating them on the contracting process. The goal of the series is to provide sufficient information to strengthen the CBO's future advocacy efforts for discretionary funding opportunities and submitted proposals in response to RFPs issued by City agencies.

The series begins in Brooklyn at Medgar Evers College on July 20, followed by Manhattan at 125 Worth Street on August 3. Dates in the remaining three boroughs are to be determined.

Forty students from UpBeat NYC, a DYCD-funded nonprofit organization that provides free musical training for underserved South Bronx children, traveled to Caracas to participate in a multi-day music workshop with world-renowned music education program El Sistema. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was made possible by an invitation from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after he visited the Bronx in 2014. A joint concert was held on July 5, as part of Venezuela's Independence Day celebration activities. Click here to read more.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Granite Terrace
Join the Brooklyn Public Library on Tuesdays in July and August at 10:30 a.m. for a rollicking good time listening to stories, singing songs, and enjoying the breeze from the water! The Brooklyn Heights children's librarian will read stories from the library's summer reading list, plus a whole lot more! The only thing more fun than a good storytime is one with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge! For more details, click here.

New York City is arguably the jazz capital of the world, and this festival highlights some of our musical metropolis' finest contributions to the genre. The 31st annual Jazz in July fest salutes a number of worthy musical legends. Among the highlights, a highly anticipated return visit from vocalist Ernie Andrews in a program entitled Duke Ellington: Drop Me Off In Harlem and the Broadway-themed program Jazz & Sondheim, Side By Side, showcasing vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway, saxophonist Steve Wilson and drummer/composer Matt Wilson. For details, including a full schedule, click here. Located at 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue (between East 91st and East 92nd Streets) Manhattan, NY 10128, July 21 – July 30, 2015

What began in 1974 as a one-day tribute to Harlem has evolved over 40 years into a month long celebration of the community's rich economic, political and cultural history. Harlem Week reaches a fever pitch during the bursting-at-the-seams weekend of events held under the banner of Summer in the City and Harlem Day, including a college fair, children's festival, "dancing in the street" party, fashion show, tennis clinic and Motown musical concert. Among the other highlights: a special Harlem Week series of Amateur Night at the Apollo concerts (with surprise musical guests added into the mix), a hoops tourney at historic Rucker Park and the annual Percy Sutton 5K run/walk. To learn more about Harlem Week events click here. Event runs July 26 – August 22 at locations throughout Harlem.

Administration for Children's Services (ACS) is seeking appropriately qualified vendors to provide a short-term, pre-placement center ("Youth Reception Center") to youth identified by ACS including, but not limited to: (1) youth awaiting placement with an appropriate foster care provider, because the youth has not been placed in a foster home or residential care facility and/or the youth is exhibiting risk factors that may compromise the youth's safety or the safety of those around the youth (e.g., drug or alcohol use) or presenting a special need (e.g., severe emotional or behavioral problem); (2) youth previously placed in a foster home or residential care facility; and (3) youth who entered the ACS Children's Center as walk-ins. ACS seeks to provide gender specified or mixed gender services to all youth in the Youth Reception Center. This program will receive referrals from the ACS Office of Placement Administration and foster care providers. Anticipated proposal deadline is October 1, 2015 and the anticipated contract start March 1, 2016. Visit HHS Accelerator for more information.

The April 15, 2014 extension to enroll in private health insurance has passed, however Child Health Plus (PDF Brochure) and Medicaid (PDF Brochure) enrollment is all year long. Individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid and/or Child Health Plus may still have an opportunity to enroll in private health insurance if they have had a qualifying event such as job loss, marriage, divorce, and birth of a child.

Please visit the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access' (OCHIA) website for additional information on Special Enrollment. Please share this information with the community, your staff and families.

Youth Service Day (YSA) is accepting applications for the Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency Program for GYSD 2016 (April 15 – 17, 2016). The program offers organizations the funding, official designation, capacity-building training, and ongoing consultancy to lead high-impact, high-visibility youth service activities and celebration events for Global Youth Service Day. As the official organizer of Global Youth Service Day in their region, GYSD Lead Agencies are a vital part of creating a culture where young people have the opportunities and support to create positive change in their communities. Nonprofit organizations located in the United States are eligible to apply. Accepting applications through July 31, 2015. Visit YSA for more information.

Young change-makers can now apply for a Summer of Creativity Grant to help make their community greener, safer, smarter, healthier, cleaner, or fairer. Winners receive a $500 grant to help make a lasting, positive change in the world. Grant applicants must be between the ages of five and 18, and live in the United States. Apply by August 10, 2015! For more information on the grant application, click here.

The Karma for Cara Foundation is encouraging kids 18 and under to apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. Whether it is turning a vacant lot into a community garden, rebuilding a school playground or helping senior citizens get their homes ready for winter, they want to hear what project you're passionate about. Applicants will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Click here to learn how you can get involved or apply for a micro-grant at Karma for Cara.